2-889-387 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Submarine Electric Telegraph between Dover and Calais - The Electric Wire at Cape Grinez, 1850. Ships laying a telegraph cable between England and France. 'The only conjectured difficulty on the route was at a point in mid-channel, called the Ridge, between which and another inequality called the Varne, both well known and dreaded by navigators, there is a deep submarine valley, surrounded by shifting sands...The submarine telegraph line was, however, successfully submerged. On nearing Cape Grinez [Cap Gris-Nez on the north coast of France] the soundings become very rugged, and the coast dangerous; but by steady and cautious manipulation, the Goliah delivered her cargo of wire to be safely connected with the end of the tubing which had been laid at Cape Grinez, and run up the cliff to a temporary station at its summit'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850.